Rio Americano High School Physics
Dean Baird's Resume

Certification

Education

Experience

Professional Activities

Organizations

Student and School Achievement

Honors

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CERTIFICATION
California Teaching Certificate issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Single Subject Secondary
Physical Science with supplemental authorization in Introductory Mathematics


EDUCATION
Master of Science (with Honors) in Instructional Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction
National University, May 1997.

Bachelor of Science in Education: Physics Major, Math Minor
The University of Michigan, August 1986.

Grand Rapids Junior College, 1981-1982
(Literature & Composition and Calculus & Analytical Geometry, both taught off-campus at Creston High School).

Grand Rapids Creston High School, 1979-1982.

Riverside Junior High School, 1976-1979.

Riverside Elementary School, 1969-1976.


EXPERIENCE
Physics Teacher, August 1986 - Present
Rio Americano High School, San Juan Unified School District, Carmichael, California
Teach full-year, senior-level physics and Advanced Placement Physics. Developed comprehensive set of text-independent curriculum materials. Enrollment in physics has increased from 10% of the graduating class in 1985-86 to about 70% of the senior class since 1987-88. In the past ten years, over 90% of our students who took the AP Physics B Exam passed with a score of 3 or higher. Our AP Physics students won first place honors in the 1991 and 1997 AAPT/Metrologic Physics Bowl competition exam; they won second place in 1992 and 2003. Coached members of Rio's highly successful Academic Decathlon and Science Olympiad teams. US Department of Energy Science Bowl coach from 1993 to 1996. Director of annual ExploratoRio exhibition since 1994.

Computer Science and Electronics Teacher, June 1991 - July 1993
River City Science Academy, Citrus Heights, California
Taught an introductory and advanced course in HyperCard and HyperTalk to 5th- through 7th-grade students in two-week sessions at this summer science program. Produced a projectile game called CannonFire that was included on a shareware CD-ROM and made available from America Online. Taught a course in electronics that spanned electrostatic concepts and soldering with printed circuit boards.

Newspaper Teacher, August 1986 - June 1989
Taught the journalism class that was responsible for producing The Rio Mirada, Rio Americano's student newspaper. Between 1986 and 1989, the Mirada earned awards at the district, regional, and national level.

Student Teacher, January - May 1986
Ann Arbor Huron High School, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Taught under Walter Scheider, Michigan's first winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.


PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
Author, Conceptual Physics: Activities · Experiments · TechLabs · Demonstrations, 12th Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2014

Author, Conceptual Integrated Science Lab Manual, 2nd Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2013

Author, Conceptual Physical Science Lab Manual, 5th Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2012

Author, Conceptual Physics: Activities · Experiments · TechLabs · Demonstrations, 11th Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2010

Author, Conceptual Physical Science—Explorations Lab Manual, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2010

Author, Conceptual Integrated Science—Explorations Lab Manual, Prentice Hall, 2010

Author, Conceptual Physical Science Lab Manual, 4th Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2008

Co-author, Conceptual Integrated Science Lab Manual, Addison-Wesley, 2007

Co-author, Conceptual Physical Science Lab Manual, 3rd Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2004

Co-author, Conceptual Physical Science-Explorations Lab Manual, Prentice Hall, 2003

Contributor, Scott Foresman Addison-Wesley Conceptual Physics, Prentice Hall, 2002

The Physics Teacher (Journal of the American Association of Physics Teachers)
"Males, Females, and Wrong Answers" Letter to the Editor, 37 (February 1999), p. 67.
"The Blowgun as a Teaching Tool", 34 (February 1996), pp. 98-100.

Northern California/Nevada Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (NCNAAPT)
Advice for the Young at Phyz: Notes from the NCNAAPT New Teacher Workshop, April 2002
You Teach Too Much: A List of Topics Considered Nonessential in California, November 1999
"California Science Standards Panel Discussion" November 1998
A Different, Two-Year High School Physics Program, April 1998
"Science Standards Alert," April 1997
"The Laser Beam Viewing Tank," November 1996
"Physics is a Mind-Expanding Subject (Illusion)," April 1996
"The Photoacoustic Effect," November 1995
The Blowgun as a Teaching Tool, November 1995
"The Paper Magnet," April 1994
Understanding the Slide: A Model for Electric Circuits, April 1994
"Aristotle's Statement of Newton's First Law," November 1993
A Magic Circle for Graphical Kinematics, November 1993
"The Newtonian Shot: A Dart Gun Demonstration," April 1993

Master's Thesis: Is the Physics Classroom Any Place for Girls? An Examination of Gender Equity in Physics Education: How it Came About and What Teachers Can Do About It. February 1997

Schools and Colleges for the Advancement of Teaching Science (SCATS)
Rotational Mystery Batons, February 1997
The Rules of the Universe, December 1987

Laser Applications in Science Education (LASE)
The Groovy CD Experiment, July 1991

Rio Americano High School Strategic Plan Team
Member, 2010

Rio Americano High School Site Council
Member, 2006-2008

Rio Americano High School Digital High School Committee
Member, 1999-2002

Rio Americano High School Technology Day Workshop
How I Use the Mac for School, January 1990

EVALUATION
California Department of Education Assessment Review Panel,  2003-Present
Appointed by The State Board of Education to serve on a panel of content specialists. The panel is convened by the developer of the California Standards Tests, and panelists evaluate potential test questions in regard to their alignment with California's academic content standards.

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Standard-Setting Committee, December 1998
Selected by CTC to serve on a panel of physics instructors charged with recommending minimum requirements for new physics teachers in terms of standardized examination performance.

Golden State Exam in Physics, 1998-Present
Physics Development Team Member, 1999-Present
Physics Notebook Development, June 2001
Performance Standard-Setting Committee Member, September 2000, August 1999
Item Writing Workshop Table Leader in Physics, June 2000
Reader for the 1999 Physics Live Test, July 1999
Reader for the 1998 Physics Constructed Response and Laboratory Task Field Tests, July and November 1998

AAPT High School Examinations Development Committee, 1993-Present
AAPT Examinations Editorial Board, 1999-2002, 1996-1999
Evaluated and developed potential questions for use on the AAPT Physics Exam, Physics Bowl, and Physics Olympiad.

PRAXIS: A Teacher Examination from Educational Testing Service, March 1992
Chosen by the California Department of Education to evaluate potential test questions for use in the physics content-area portion of the PRAXIS exam.

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT & LEADERSHIP
The Book of Phyz, 1986-Present
A complete high school physics curriculum including content information, guided and individual practice, laboratory and demonstration write-ups, and evaluation materials.

Physics Teacher SOS, 2004-Present
Paul Robinson, Stephanie Finander, and I present workshops and perform outreach activities for new high school physics teachers in Northern California. We conducted our workshops in association with the NCNAAPT since 1996. In 2004, The Karl L. Brown Foundation began generously supporting our activities, and PTSOS has blossomed with their assistance.

Northern California and Nevada Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers
Elected by members in April 2005 to serve as Vice-President for High Schools 2005-2009.
Elected by members in April 1996 to serve as Secretary in 1996-97.
Elected by members in April 1997 to serve as President-Elect in 1997-98.
Elected by members in April 1998 to serve as President in 1998-99.
Served as Past President in 1999-2000.

San Juan Unified School District Science Committees:
Content Standards, Equipment Standards, Assessment, and Science Lab Improvement,
1997-2000
Serving on committees developing content standards and process and equipment standards that every science student graduating in the district should be able to meet. Also serving on a committee developing methods to assess student achievement.

Rio Americano Digital High School Committee, 1999-2002
Assisted writing of the Digital High School Grant. Prepared a detailed master list of computers on campus prior to implementation of the DHS Grant. Determined allocation of Digital High School Grant among various projects at the school site.

Rio Americano Digital High School Technology Mentor, 2000-2002
Assist teachers in their efforts to integrate technology in the classroom. Prepared a series of lesson demonstrations so that teachers could see and interact with students using computers in the classroom.

Rio Americano Blue Ribbon School Evaluation Visitation Panel
, October 1995
Selected by school administration as one of fifteen Rio teachers to participate in a panel discussion and classroom observations by the US Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program selection committee evaluator. Rio was awarded the Blue Ribbon designation following the on-site evaluation.

Southern California Alliance of Mentors in Physics Instruction (SCAMPI), 1994-96
In-service and classroom materials and activities for middle school and elementary teachers and their students in the areas of global warming, earthquakes, interplanetary space travel, atmospheric electromagnetism, electromagnetism and transportation, of lightwave communications. [National Science Foundation program granted to Professor John Jewett, Jr. of California Polytechnic/Pomona and Professor Roger Nanes of California State University/Fullerton.]

Laser Applications in Science Education (LASE), 1991
Received instruction in laser applications and developed classroom laser activities. [National Science Foundation program granted to Professor Gareth Williams at San Jose State University.]


ORGANIZATIONS
American Association of Physics Teachers · AAPT High School Examination Development Committee · AAPT Examinations Editorial Board · Northern California/Nevada Section AAPT · Bay Area Physics Teachers · Sacramento Area Physics and Astronomy Colloquium (Steering Committee) · Schools and Colleges for the Advancement of Teaching Science · Laser Applications in Science Education - Southern California Alliance of Mentors for Physics Instruction


STUDENT AND SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT
California Distinguished School and National Blue Ribbon School
Rio Americano has been recognized by the State Department of Education as a California Distinguished School since 1988. In 1996, it was recognized by the US Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Advanced Placement Physics
AAPT/Metrologic Instruments (Knowles Education Foundation) Physics Bowl:
Top Individual Score: 2nd Place, Region 14 (CA) Division II (2nd Year) - William Adams, $100 Scolarship
Top Individual Score: 2nd Place, Region 14 (CA) Division II (2nd Year) - William Adams, $100 Scolarship

1st Place 1997, Region 13 (CA) Division I (1st Year).
1st Place 1991, Region 14 (North CA, AZ, CO, NV, UT, WY) Division II (AP/2nd Year)
2nd Place 2003, Region 14 (California, Hawaii, US Protectorates) Division II (2nd Year)
2nd Place 1992, Region 14 (North CA, AZ, CO, NV, UT, WY) Division II (AP/2nd Year)

Science Olympiad (Assistant Coach)
National Tournaments
Rio placed 12th/48 in 1992 at Auburn University, Alabama.
Rio placed 28th/50 in 1993 at The University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo.
Rio placed 14th/52 in 1995 at Indiana University, Bloomington.
Rio's Physics Lab team placed 3rd in the 1995 National Tournament.

Northern California State Tournaments
1st Place, 1992, 1993, and 1995.
2nd Place, 1990, 1991, and 1994.

Sacramento Valley Regional Tournament.
1st Place, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995.
2nd Place, 1990, 1993, 1996.
1st Place, Physics Lab 1993.

Newspaper: The Rio Mirada
Columbia Scholastic Newspaper Association Contest:
Medalist (Highest Rating) 1989.
1st Place 1988.

Sacramento Bee Newspaper Contest, 1988:
1st Place Editorial, Jeremy Gollub.
2nd Place Overall, The Rio Mirada, Mike Pulliam and Jeremy Gollub, Editors.
2nd Place Continuing Column, Tina Harris, "Diary of an Activist."
2nd Place Feature, Vanessa Richardson, "Advice for Freshmen."
3rd Place Cartoon, Erik Lobo, "The Farce Side."
3rd Place Sports Feature, Dianne Chipps.

San Juan Writers Fair:
2nd Place 1988
3rd Place 1987 and 1989.


HONORS

American Association of Physics Teachers Fellowship: 2014

Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching 2011 - California Science Recipient: 2012

Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching 2011 - State Finalist in Science: 2011

Stanford University Teacher Tribute (Laura Lilly): 2008

American Association of Physics Teachers Distinguished Service Citation: 2008


Rio Americano High School Raider Recognition: 2006

San Juan Unified School District Award for Professional Excellence (Jordan Miller-Ziegler): 2004

Who's Who Among America's Teachers: 2004 (Jason Chou)

Who's Who Among America's Teachers: 2002 (Stephen Jackson)

NCNAAPT Distinguished Service Award: 2001

AAPT Excellence in Teaching Award: 2001 (William Adams/PhysicsBowl)

Cornell University: Recognition of Outstanding Educators 2000
Selected by Susan Crown (Rio '96) as the secondary teacher who most influenced her education. Susan was honored as a Merrill Presidential Scholar for graduating in the top 1% of her class. A scholarship of $4000 was given in my name to a Sacramento-area student planning to attend Cornell the following Fall.

UCSD Outstanding Teacher Recognition Award: 1999 (Sim Mendick)

Who's Who Among America's Teachers: 1998 (Paul Zheng)

UCSD Outstanding Teacher Recognition Award: 1997 (Mike Houston)

Rio Americano Student Government Award for Outstanding Service: 1997

Rio Americano High School Principal's Most Valuable Teacher Award: 1997

UCSD Outstanding Teacher Recognition Award: 1996 (Rebecca Rice)

San Juan Unified School District Citation for Outstanding Service (Science Olympiad): 1995

San Juan Unified School District Award for Professional Excellence (Liwen Mah): 1989

San Juan Unified School District Award for Professional Excellence (Chris Sun, Mona Ismail): 1988

Rio Americano Student Government Award for Outstanding Service: 1988

San Juan Unified School District Award for Professional Excellence (Trent Rohrer): 1987

Rio Americano Student Government Award for Outstanding Service: 1987

Miscellaneous: One of my students, Jason Kamras, was honored as 2005 National Teacher of the Year. An article in the Sacramento Bee gave the local angle through an interview.


E-mail me at dean@phyz.org
Revised November 2014 by Dean Baird